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Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Best of Mangalore Part 5: Top Seafood Restaurants in Mangalore

Many people want to eat seafood when visiting Mangalore, and you'll see Mangalore dotted with a lot of seafood restaurants all over the city. The best seafood restaurants in Mangalore stand out through their close connections to suppliers, netting them a steady supply of freshly-caught seafare brought in directly from the dock at Bunder. On the plate, that translates to succulent shellfish, sublimely fresh fish and seasonal specialties - all of which live up to the impressive hype.

Unlike Goa, there aren't beach shacks in Managlore, even though Mangalore has some really wonderful beaches. So you can skip the thought of dining at the beach side places. But you can find some great fare within the city. Here are some of my top picks of places to eat at for amazing sea food in Mangalore. Some of them are really simple places - do not expect much in terms of looks and ambiance. But the food is worth it.

Also, before I begin the listing of restaurants, I shall list out the names/translations of seafood. Since most of the restaurants have the local language name of the fish/seafood on the menu, it gets a little tricky for an outsider while ordering.

Disclaimer:I am listing places according to my personal experiences and liking. I am not ranking or endorsing any restaurants. This is not a sponsored post, just doing it to help my readers easily find a good seafood restaurant in Mangalore!

#1 Giri Manjas

Very popular for variety of seafood preparations in Mangalore. It is one of the oldest and reputed restaurants in the city. You can eat all you please at a reasonable price. Get a basic fish thali and add other seafood items like, Rava Fry, Masala Fry, Ghee Roast, etc.

#2 Machali

Another resturant serving amazing Konkani food, similar to Giri Manjas. It is right behind Ocean Pearl, in the heart of Mangalore city. They serve the best Konkani style seafood preparations in Mangalore. The place is small, and is buzzing with crowd during lunch time. So you might have to wait for a while to secure yourself a seat. Read my review about the place here.

#3 Bappamas

Bappamas is a very new Konkan food joint opened right before Machali, behind Ocean Pearl, Mangalore. It is set up in a titled house and food is served on narrow tables. In case you want to try some authentic Konkani food, this place is worth trying. Also, it's open for dinner too, unlike Machali and Giri Manjas. Read my full experince at Bappamas here.

#4 Hotel Narayana

A small house like place located in the narrow bylanes of Bunder area. Again, like Giri Manjas, Bapammas and Machali, the outdoor appearance isn't fascinating, but the food is amazing. Order a fish thali and enjoy it along with several preparations of seafood. This one again can be tried during lunch or dinner.

#6 Gajalee Seafood Restaurant

An upscale restaurant that serves a variety of seafood preparations besides other items. It you are looking for decent parking space and great ambiance, and don't mind the prices, go here. The seafood is fresh and you will be amazed at the different varieties it is prepared. Also, the highlight of this place is that they show you the fish and other seafood before preparing. You get to see what you'll eat.

#7 Shetty Lunch Home

Famous for its Mangalorean and South Indian recipes, Shetty's Lunch home is a place for Seafood lovers. The ambiance isn't really great, but the food is definitely worth a try. Also, their Ghee Roast is recommended.

#8 Dakshin Seafood Resturant

This is a dingy upscale restaurant situated in Hotel Prestige. The ambiance is great for an evening out. They serve all varities of seafood in three preparations - Fry, Masala Fry and Curry. Also, the Ghee Roast here is of special mention. Do not miss it for anything!